Mobile police officer beat handcuffed man because he grabbed his testicles, city official says

Mobile police officer beat handcuffed man because he grabbed his testicles, city official says

Mobile Chief of Staff James Barber told the city council Tuesday the Department of Justice and FBI have both been notified of an incident, captured on video, in which a Mobile police officer can be seen repeatedly punching a handcuffed man.

The incident began as a traffic stop last Thursday, when Mobile officer Paul Callegari and his partner stopped a vehicle reportedly driven by 36-year-old Beezer Earl Dubose Jr., which the officers allege was speeding.

After pulling the vehicle over at the intersection of Dauphin Island Parkway and Halls Mill Road, the officers reported detecting the smell of marijuana and asked both Dubose and his passenger to exit the vehicle.

The video, posted to multiple social media sites, begins with Callegari on top of Dubose, who is handcuffed and face down. Callegari proceeds to punch Dubose in the head multiple times before moving around to the side as his partner walks over.

In initial court filings, Callegari claims Dubose grabbed Callegari’s “testicles and penis and twisted them, causing serious physical pain.”

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Barber said Callegari reported the use of force to the Mobile Police Department following last Thursday’s incident, according to WPMI.

“He did report that he used multiple closed-fist blows in order to get the subject to let go of his testicles,” Barber reportedly said. Barber also said Callegari was scheduled to see a urologist Tuesday.

Callegari was placed on administrative leave as the FBI, Department of Justice and Mobile’s Office of Professional Responsibility conduct their investigations of the incident.

Dubose was charged with speeding, 2nd-degree assault, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. He was taken to Mobile Metro Jail and later released after posting $16,800 bond.